Published : 10 Sep 2026, 02:50 AM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:49 AM
Spanish second-division side CD Eldense said on Wednesday that Argentine great Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to become the club's new owner.
The Inter Miami forward is close to completing a deal to purchase 100 percent of the shares held by Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group SAS, the current majority shareholder.
Messi, 39, is poised to become the majority owner of a second club in Spain, after the purchase of UE Cornella on Apr 16 earlier this year.
Cornella, who play in the fifth tier of Spain's football pyramid, have a reputation for success in grassroots and youth football, with a number of graduates from their academy going on to join Messi's former club Barcelona over the years.
He is also set to receive a stake in current club Inter Miami after the expiry of his playing contract.
Reports in Spain on Tuesday said the deal to purchase Eldense is expected to be completed in the coming days.
"At this time, the operation is pending completion of the final legal and contractual procedures, including the corresponding due diligence process, as well as the mandatory authorisation from the High Council for Sports (CSD)," Eldense told Reuters.
The club were unable to give a fixed date for the completion of the deal. TH Soluciones Group have also been contacted for comment.
Eldense, 20th in the Segunda standings, were taken over by TH Soluciones Group last October. Eldense have risen to the second tier of Spanish football after years spent in the regional divisions.
Messi will be unable to invest heavily in signing players for Eldense, due to Spain's strict salary limit rules.
Messi is one of a number of big names in Spanish football who have become club owners. Former teammate Gerard Pique's Kosmos group own Andorra who also play in Spain's second tier.
Real Madrid forwards Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe are part of investment groups that are majority shareholders at Alverca in Portugal and SM Caen in France, respectively.
